IndyCar returns after a brief break to the City of Roses for the OnlyBulls Grand Prix of Portland. Series champion Alex Palou is red-hot coming off his most recent race win in Nashville. The Spaniard sits 83 points ahead of his closest rival for the title, David Malukas.
Additionally, Marcus Ericsson heads into the weekend on the front foot as well. The Swede signed a contract extension with Andretti Global earlier in the week.
Breaking news
The No. 4 AJ Foyt Racing and No. 12 Team Penske entries will take six-place grid penalties before Sunday’s race, following the announcement by IndyCar Officiating. Both cars violated Rules 16.1.2.3.2 and 16.1.6.2.1, relating to making unapproved engine changes.
IndyCar Officiating states: “Rule 16.1.6.1.2., the penalty is a six-position starting grid penalty on road and street course events and nine positions at oval events and will be served at the series’ next event, which is the OnlyBulls Grand Prix of Portland on Sunday, Aug. 9 at Portland International Raceway.”
IndyCar is back on track in Portland
IndyCar’s first practice session of the Portland weekend kicks off under sunny skies! Caio Collet is the first to run afoul in Portland, taking to the run-off as cars head out on track.
It’s a very quiet start to the session, as cars slowly crawl out onto the track. Mick Schumacher is the first car to set a time, a 1:01.23, followed by Christian Lundgaard and Caio Collet.
Lundgaard quickly takes the top spot with a 1:00.070, before being unseated by Collet with a 1:00.03 shortly after. The track is beginning to rubber in. So, times quickly tumble under a minute, as the top 10 in the session all sit in the 59-second range.
With 20 minutes remaining in the session, Marcus Armstrong whacks the concrete barriers at Turn 1 but continues, with some damage to the front right of the car. And, despite multiple on-track incidents from Rossi and Grosjean as well, the session continues under green.
Palou pops to the top with a 58.571, leading a Ganassi 1-2 from Kyffin Simpson, with 16 minutes remaining in Practice 1.
Palou, Simpson, VeeKay, Dixon, and Rosenqvist complete the top 5.
Louis Foster retires from the combined part of the session and is wheeled back to the garage with engine issues. His new engine for the weekend not going the way the Brit would prefer.
Turn 1 sees Pato O’Ward lock up his front left, leading to minor whack into the barriers and a spin. He returns to the pit lane to pick up a new set of tires.
A brief red flag for debris on the track prompts the combined session to pause before closing out with Palou nearly 4-tenths ahead of his teammate.
Group 1
Kyle Kirkwood hits the Portland circuit with a set of soft-compound tires and sets a 1:02.37. Shortly after, Rinus VeeKay tops the sheets with a 1:00.29, knocking off almost 2.5 seconds.
Kirkwood resets himself and sets a blistering 58.660 before returning to the pit lane. Ericsson and Newgarden set identical 59.088’s behind the Florida native.
Once again, Pato O’Ward finds himself with issues at Turn 1 but despite issues, he recovers enough for P5 with a 59.173.
Kirkwood, VeeKay and Power are the top 3 in the first of the split sessions.
Group 2
The second of the combined sessions begins with Scott Dixon taking an early lead with a 1:01.41.
The times quickly tumble under a minute, with Collet, Robb and Lundgaard all sitting within 4-tenths of each other in the mid 59’s.
Lundgaard has a brief off-track moment at Turn 6, kicking up some dust but quickly getting back on track.
The final minutes of the second combined session in Portland have Palou, Dixon, and Collet leading the pack, despite Palou being slower then his combined session time.
David Malukas pops to the top for a moment with 58.988, before being unseated by Palou with 58.976.
The second split session closes out with Palou leading Malukas and Dixon, the three split by barely 2-tenths.
